But even those narcs have different motivations. Maybe they hate their editor or their publisher, or they feel their employer has failed them in some other different way. (And if you fall into any of those categories, don't be shy about emailing me!) With an exaggerated tip of the hat to Poynter leadership guru Jill Geisler, who suggested this piece, here's a brief taxonomy of workplace moles.

The Self-Promoter. Leaking provides this person not only the chance to right a perceived wrong but also a shot at a lucrative second career as a cherished truth vigilante. Examples: Julian Assange, Greg Smith

The Chessmaster. A machiavellian mole, this person is a world-class grand schemer. The journalist this person chooses gets scoops; the Chessmaster gets to eliminate rivals and/or settle scores. All results redound to the Chessmaster's advantage. Example: Mark Felt

The Malcontent. This person enjoys embarrassing their employer and may leak without thought toward the consequences (or collateral damage to their coworkers). Also known to media reporters as a stone-cold hero. Examples: Like I'm gonna reveal my sources.

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Andrew Beaujon reported on the media for Poynter from 2012 to 2015. He was previously arts editor at TBD.com and managing editor of Washington City Paper. He's the author of the 2006 book "Body Piercing Saved My Life," about Christian rock and evangelical Christian culture.